The upcoming Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to commence on June 29, with advance registration opening on April 15. Spanning a period of 45 days, the sacred journey will draw to a close on August 19, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan. Following the commencement on June 29, prospective pilgrims can register in advance starting from April 15, 2024. Post the Lok Sabha elections, administrative efforts will pivot towards facilitating the Baba Amarnath Yatra.
This year’s pilgrimage promises a duration of 45 days, kicking off on June 29 and concluding on August 19. Registration mandates a medical certificate, with avenues available through designated bank branches of PNB, SBI, YES Bank, and Jammu & Kashmir Bank. Online registration via the official website of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board is also facilitated. Indian pilgrims are required to pay a registration fee of Rs 220, while for NRI and international travelers, the fee stands at Rs 1510 per pilgrim. Essential documents include a medical certificate, Aadhar card, photographs, and blood group information. Mandatory medical checkups ensure the pilgrims’ well-being.
Two prescribed routes, Baltal and Pahalgam, each accommodate a fixed quota of 10,000 pilgrims, with online registration offering 3500 seats per route per day. Helicopter bookings for the Amarnath Yatra will commence on May 15, 2024, a month subsequent to the registration initiation. Furthermore, on April 15, 2024, the Amarnath Shrine Board’s official website will update the medical certificate format and furnish a roster of authorized doctors.
In contrast, the 2023 Amarnath Yatra spanned 62 days, marking a notable deviation from previous years. 2024 marks the first time in recent memory that the pilgrimage will return to its traditional 45-day duration, after a prolonged extension in the previous year. The pilgrimage in 2022 lasted 43 days, running from June 30 to August 11. Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Yatra was suspended in 2020 and 2021, with only symbolic ‘Chhari Pujan’ ceremonies conducted by select priests.
In 2019, the Yatra faced curtailment by approximately 15 days preceding the Central Government’s decision on August 5 to abrogate Article 370 and Article 35-A, leading to the bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
The Yatra will kick off simultaneously from both routes – the Pahalgam track in the Anantnag district and Baltal in the Ganderbal district. Authorities have issued directives to ensure stringent cleanliness standards and implement necessary measures for sanitation and waste management.
Moreover, the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) will facilitate live telecasts of the morning and evening Aarti (prayers) for devotees worldwide. To provide real-time updates on the Yatra and weather conditions, as well as facilitate various online services, the Shri Amarnathji Yatra’s App is now available on the Google Play store.
